Chapter 6
One Year Later
Rory
“Where’s the fire?” Tate was lurking in the hospital hallway while his lead paramedic, Eric, signed off on a patient transfer. I was in a hurry to get home from my new job as a hospital social worker and not really in the mood for chit-chat.
“It’s my anniversary with my boyfriend tonight.”
“I love how you and Marshall have been together a year now, yet you both still get all cute when you say boyfriend.” Tate laughed.
“I try not to take him for granted.” It had been the best year of my whole life.
Graduation. Dating Marshall. Falling in love.
Starting my job. Spending the holidays together.
Meeting each other’s friends and family.
I couldn’t wait to get to my apartment so I could properly appreciate my boyfriend.
“You do a good job of that.” Tate continued to seem in far less of a hurry than me. “Where are you guys going for your anniversary?”
“Staying in.” I chuckled even as I blushed. Marshall and I really were almost unbearably domestic and cute together. Luckily, we both loved it that way. “We’re learning how to cook together. My dad gifted us a set of cookbooks for two for Christmas.”
“See? Adorable.” Tate finally waved me on my way.
I arrived at my apartment to find Marshall already cooking, all three cats lined up in size order, watching him from the ledge of their climbing structure.
“Your cats are finally getting used to me,” Marshall said as he readied bacon-wrapped chicken breasts for the oven. He was in a good mood after another successful court date that morning on a case moving toward reunification. “They didn’t even move when I beat you home.”
“They should be used to you.” I bumped his shoulder. “You’re over often enough.”
We alternated nights at his place and mine. Because of the cats, we ended up here more often, to the point that my new job present to myself had been a king-size bed. I wasn’t going to complain about sharing space or time with Marshall.
“Speaking of…” Marshall paused to slide the chicken into the oven and then pull out his phone. “I downloaded a new app.”
“A real estate app?” I peered down at his phone. “Why would you…?” I trailed off, understanding dawning. “You want to house hunt?”
“Yes.” He presented the special smile he saved just for me. “The cats deserve a two-parent household. And possibly a catio.”
“I’m liking this idea.” I nodded, even as my head churned, thinking of the local housing market and rising prices.
“Good. Me too.” He leaned in for a fast kiss. “And my parents want to help us.”
“I love your parents.” I wasn’t too proud to accept their help. They doted on Marshall, visiting often and having us come to Portland. If they wanted to help make it easier for us to live together, I was all for it.
“They love you too.” Chuckling, Marshall gave me another kiss. “As do I. Love you so much, Rory. I really want to live together.”
“I want that too.” I stretched, wanting one more kiss, but Marshall was already moving away, fetching a plate with two perfect cupcakes from the fridge.
“Wait. We’re starting with dessert?”
“We make up the rules, remember?” he teased, and suddenly, I was right back on that first date a year ago, nervous and unsteady. Last first date. Emotion welled in me, and I stared at the cupcakes to collect myself. Something sparkled in the center of one.
“There’s a… Oh.” I lost all power of speech as I plucked a gold ring off the cupcake.
“Will you marry me, Rory?” Marshall dropped to one knee like we were in the middle of a movie, and forget talking, I almost couldn’t breathe for several long seconds. “Rory?”
“My dad may cry if I say no,” I joked to keep from crying myself.
“Then say yes.” Marshall didn’t look terribly concerned. We’d talked enough about the future that my yes was the least surprising thing about this proposal.
“Yes.” I helped him up. “I love you so much too.”
“Shall we adjourn to the bedroom?” He tugged my hand.
“Before dinner?” I pretended to be shocked even as I let him lead me and the plate of cupcakes he’d grabbed to the bedroom.
“Absolutely.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. “I can’t wait.”
“Me too. And for the rest of our lives.”
“Turns out getting stuck in that elevator was the best thing to ever happen to me.” He pulled me in for the softest, sweetest kiss, and I couldn’t have agreed more. There was no one I’d rather be stuck with for the rest of my life.